Compare towns
Amherst vs Hampton vs Rye vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Hampton has the most renters (26.2% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Amherst | Hampton | Rye | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,861 |
16,426Highest |
5,611Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stratham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Amherst and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kLowest 34% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
10.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.